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Gastroenterology

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Reflux and Heart Burn Center

At Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center we provide a comprehensive treatment approach to patients suffering from reflux disease and heartburn. Our goal is to educate patients and healthcare professionals about reflux disease symptoms and long-term complications and align patients with proper medical treatment options including lifestyle modifications and surgical solutions.

If you have persistent heartburn or acid reflux, the Reflux and Heart Burn Center at Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center can help you reduce chronic heartburn and chest or throat discomfort. Treatment is available for a variety of disorders including chronic heartburn, Barrett's esophagus and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux disease.

GERD Explained

GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, affects millions of Americans and occurs when stomach acid or intestinal bile leaks from the stomach into the esophagus. This process is known as acid reflux and can cause heartburn and irritate the esophagus. Prolonged acid reflux can cause chronic inflammation of the esophagus and can lead to serious health problems including a condition known as Barrett's esophagus. In this condition, the lining of the esophagus changes to resemble the lining of the stomach. While there are no symptoms of Barrett's esophagus, the condition has been linked to cancer of the esophagus. The Reflux and Heart Burn Center can examine your esophagus for precancerous cells and offer early treatment options if necessary.

GERD Symptoms

Heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD. Other symptoms can include:

Sore throat

Belching

Hoarseness

Regurgitation

Asthma-like symptoms

Chest pain or discomfort

Coughing

Burning in the throat or mouth

Bloating

GERD can affect anyone, including infants and children. If you have chronic heartburn or are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you may have GERD.

Learn about treatment options below.

GERD Treatment Options

Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center gastroenterologists use a variety of treatment options. Medication is the most common treatment, and diet and lifestyle changes may also be used. Often times, people can improve their symptoms by avoiding alcohol and spicy, greasy or fatty foods. Other tips to avoid heartburn include eating smaller meals, avoiding meals near bedtime and losing weight if necessary. Over-the-counter medications can also be used for relief.

Procedures are also available that enable doctors to help diagnose and treat GERD and other gastrointestinal conditions. Treatments include:

Manometry to measure muscle contractions in the esophagus and evaluate whether more invasive treatment is needed.

Radio frequency ablation (RFA), which is an endoscopic procedure to treat Barrett's esophagus and reduce its progression.

Reflux pH and impedance to detect acid reflux by measuring the amount of liquid or acid in the esophagus during normal activities.

Endoscopic ultrasound helps assess digestive disease by using high-frequency sound waves that produce detailed images of the lining and walls of the digestive tract.

Pillcam/capsule endoscopy, which is a minimally invasive procedure used to detect diseases of the small bowel including Crohn's disease.

LINX Procedure

The LINX® procedure is a revolutionary surgical solution to help millions of people suffering from acid reflux find symptoms relief. It is a small titanium device made up of permanent magnets that is implanted around the lower esophageal sphincter in a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure. It does not alter the anatomy of the stomach which preserves its normal physiological function. It is intended for patients diagnosed with GERD who are surgically qualified candidates seeking an alternative therapy for symptom relief.

Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF)

Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF) is a procedure in which surgeons insert a device equipped with a small camera through the mouth and toward the stomach. General anesthesia is required, and most patients are able to return home the next day; they can usually return to work and most normal activities within a few days.

During the procedure, surgeons manipulate the device to make and fasten several folds of tissue (plications) and create an anti-reflux valve at the connection of the stomach and esophagus. After two years, the majority of TIF patients are able to return to eating foods that they could not previously tolerate, and are able to stop taking medication.

Patients suffering from GERD are candidates for TIF if they:

Regularly experience troublesome symptoms of GERD

No longer respond adequately to pharmaceutical therapies

Are concerned about the long-term effects of taking PPIs (proton pump inhibitors)

Are considering surgery but are concerned about complication and potential side effects of laparoscopic antireflux surgery

Benefits of TIF include:

No external skin incisions or scarring

No internal cutting leading to a more rapid recovery

Does not limit future treatment options

Can be revised if required.

About the Surgeon

Dr. Shawn Tsuda is a board-certified general surgeon and Chief of Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery at the UNLV School of Medicine. He is fellowship-trained in laparoscopic and robotic weight-loss surgery, anti-reflux surgery and hernia surgery.

He is dedicated to education and research and is the director of surgical skills and simulation for the university residency program. He is certified in the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) and serves as an FLS course instructor.

Dr. Tsuda was the first surgeon in Nevada certified in the LINX Reflux Management System for patients with severe GERD.

If you need a referral to a gastroenterologist or other physician at Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center, call our free Direct Doctors Plus® referral service at 702-388-4888

Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center is owned and operated by a subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS), a King of Prussia, PA-based company, that is one of the largest healthcare management companies in the nation.

The information on this website is provided as general health guidelines and may not be applicable to your particular health condition. Your individual health status and any required medical treatments can only be properly addressed by a professional healthcare provider of your choice. Remember: There is no adequate substitution for a personal consultation with your physician. Neither Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center, or any of their affiliates, nor any contributors shall have any liability for the content or any errors or omissions in the information provided by this website.

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